UK celebrities wave goodbye to 2020 and welcome in the New Year

David and Victoria Beckham have led the stars bidding farewell to a ‘challenging’ 2020, declaring ‘thank God it’s over’ as they celebrated New Year’s Eve on Thursday.

The duo both shared sweet clips to Instagram showing highlights from the past 12 months which included their brood clapping for the NHS, their son Brooklyn’s engagement and beekeeping with Harper during lockdown.

Also joining them in celebrating the start of 2021 was Elizabeth Hurley, 55, who put on a very glamorous display in a plunging black dress as she partied the night away at home with her son Damian, 18.

Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Victoria penned: ‘Happy New Year!! And thank god it’s over! It’s been a very different year (and a very different Christmas) for so many of us but I’m still so grateful for all the memories we were able to make over the past year. Here’s to 2021! Kisses xx vb’

While her husband David also shared a sweet roundup clip of highlights from 2020.

He wrote: ‘Sending all my love wherever you are in the world. It’s been a challenging year that has taught us so much, especially what’s most important. Here’s to a brighter 2021. Happy New Year.’

Other moments from David and Victoria’s highlights included the former footballer meeting Captain Tom Moore, the fashion designer’s latest collection launch and lots of quality family time spent together. 

Their son Romeo also wished his fo
llowers a Happy New Year as he posed loved-up snaps with girlfriend Mia Regan to the social media platform, penning: ‘I hope everyone has an amazing 2021 🙂 love u all.’

On Monday, Victoria also shared an insight into her potential New Year’s Eve outfit as she modelled a grey dress on Instagram.

The fashion designer, 46, joked ‘F*** it , I still want to look nice!’ as she teased that much like everyone else, she’ll be having a low-key celebration this year.’ 

It comes after couple and their four children, Brooklyn, Romeo, 18, Cruz, and Harper, nine, were among the stars giving their followers an insight into their cosy family Christmas on Friday. 

Current Tier 4 restrictions mean many areas of the country were only allowed to spend Christmas Day with their household, but the Beckhams appeared delighted to be spending the festive period together in their bubble.  

The family were all sporting matching navy pyjamas with white piping, while a couple of members of the brood also chose to rock a pair of Ugg slippers and a hat.

David stood in the middle of the snap with his daughter Harper, wearing a red and white Santa hat, while two of his sons sported wooly North Face beanie hats. 

The New Year’s celebrations come as Britain declared a record-high 55,892 coronavirus cases and almost 1,000 more deaths on Thursday, with government scientists warning even a March-style national lockdown with schools mainly closed might not be enough to hold the coronavirus R rate below one.

A grim assessment from SAGE says the new variant behind the spiralling second wave appears so much more contagious that the blanket restrictions imposed in November would be ‘highly unlikely’ to contain the spread.

Closing schools to all but the children of key workers and the vulnerable, as happened in the Spring, could bring the crucial reproduction rate down further but it is still ‘not known’ whether it would succeed in suppressing the outbreak.

The picture was revealed as Department of Health bosses posted the highest number of positive tests in a day since the disease first reached British soil in January. Officials also announced 964 deaths, following on from yesterday’s grim figure of 981, which was the deadliest day since April.

Despite the dire outlook, many celebs managed to celebrate the end of 2020 and the start of the New Year on Thursday, with Helen Flanagan also taking to Instagram as she posted a snap of daughter Matilda.

She wrote: ‘Happy New Year’s Eve. I think we are all ready for a fresh year. Thinking of all of those that have lost loved ones in 2020, the small business owners, anyone who works in hospitality, people that have struggled with their mental health in lockdown and the new mums of 2020 and the already mums that homeschooled. 

‘Thinking of our amazing NHS and our incredible doctors and nurses and our teachers and keyworkers. Thinking of those that have lost their businesses they have put everything into and those that had to put their dreams on hold. Here’s to a better 2021 and to anyone finding this new lockdown tough we are all in this together. Sending everyone so much love.’ 

And Tess Daly shared a radiant snap during a riverside walk and wrote: ‘Long riverside NYE walk today. Reflecting on this year. Looking forwards; like all of us to better times in 2021.  

‘My heart is full of gratitude for those brave & selfless frontline workers who have risked themselves for their country. You are true heroes ❤️ Sending love and wishes for a Happy New Year to all you beautiful souls ❤️ can’t wait til hugs are normal once again.’  

Kirsty Gallagher, 44, put on a leggy display in a thigh-split gown as she shared a glamorous throwback snap on New Year’s Eve.

The presenter showcased her toned legs as she posed up a storm in a chic gown and prepared to usher in 2021. 

She captioned the snap: ‘2020, the year none of us will forget. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the emotion of the last 12 months but tonight we celebrate the light, bravery and courage that came of it…

‘Wishing you all a happy & healthy new year, here’s to a great 2021.’ 

While 2016 Great British Bake Off winner Candice Brown had slightly stronger feelings towards the end of the year as she told 2020 to ‘F off’ as she sported a sizzling black two-piece in a social media clip. 

Candice has had a challenging year due to her split from husband Liam Macaulay and the coronavirus pandemic.  

In the black and white video posted on New Year’s Eve, she emerged from the ocean and swept her water drenched tresses away from her face. ‘2020 F off,’ the Bake Off star wrote in an accompanying caption.

Another star sure to be celebrating on Thursday was Stacey Solomon, who became engaged to her long-term beau Joe Swash on Christmas Eve.

She gushed: ‘My fiancé. It just doesn’t get old. My first picture with my future husband (sounds so weird) Just wanted to come on here and say, thank you so much for all of your lovely messages and kindness it means the world. Sharing this with you was like telling my family.  

‘Thank you for everything in 2020 couldn’t
have done it without you… I can not wait for a fresh new year to begin. Hoping that 2021 brings hope, happiness and health with it. Love you all to the moon and back..’

Love Island’s Georgia Steel was also seen celebrating New Year’s Eve in style as she shared a hoard of glamorous snaps to Instagram. 

The star, 22, flaunted her enviable physique in a plunging red velvet mini dress as she struck a flirty pose in front of Dubai’s stunning cityscape. 

She showed off her toned pegs in the figure-hugging frock as she prepared to head out for a night of fun-filled New Year celebrations with her pals.

Georgia let her dress do all the talking, keeping her accessories minimal and styling her long brunette tresses in a straight fashion across her shoulders. 

Alongside her New Year’s Eve post, she penned: ‘I hope you all have a special and blessed new year. I got a feeling 2021 is going to be the best yet and I’m excited’ (sic) 

She revealed that she has had some ‘huge life changes’ this year and urged her fans to remember that ‘everything happens for a reason’ as she positively looked ahead to the New Year.

One short caption read: ‘Ready to see 2020 out the right way’

Before she added: ‘2020 has definitely been a mad year. I had some huge life changes this year, I’m sure many other people have too. Let’s not forget everything happens for a reason and everything we experience in life is to shape us and make us grow. Hard times are just so we appreciate the good.’    

Mark Wright also took to Instagram to share a sweet throwback snap with wife Michelle as he reflected on a difficult 2020. 

He wrote: ‘As the sun has set for the last time in 2020 I thought I’d share one of the first sunsets of the year back in January, before everything went to sh/t! It has been a tough one for sure and I can’t even imagine how tough it has been for some. If you’re reading this, just remember, you have made it this far, keep going you have got this. We will get there…. together. 

‘I also have to say a huge thank you to every single one of you that got involved in my lives during lockdown. I had so many amazing messages over the year about how much they helped so many people but in all honesty you guys helped me! And of course a special thank you to my beautiful wife, I thank my lucky stars every day that I get to do life with you but even more so after this year.

‘So on 2020’s final eve, I want to wish you all a happy new year, cause let’s be honest we’ve earned it!’  

And Tamara Ecclestone’s husband Jay Rutland posted a sweet snap with their baby girl Serena and wrote: ‘How can I complain about 2020 when it brought me you. 

‘Happy New Year all and I wish everyone the very best for 2021. 

Continuing the good cheer, Lottie Tomlinson put on a loved-up display with her beau Lewis Burton on Thursday as he uploaded the first pictures of them as a couple to his Instagram account.

The social media star, 22, displayed her petite frame in a floral co-ord as she prepared to celebrate New Year in style on their winter break from an unknown location.

She styled her blonde locks in a loose wave for the series of snaps posted by her beau, 28. He captioned the upload: ‘You’re one of a kind, Happy New Year.’